Shalom and Surrender

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on our blessings and how we might surrender ourselves to respond to the kindness we have known.

Gratitude for Grace

The Reading from the Book of Numbers shares the Priestly Blessing of shalom.

* [6:26] Peace: the Hebrew word Shalom includes the idea of happiness, good health, prosperity, friendship, and general well-being. To use this term as a greeting was to pray for all these things upon the one greeted. (Numbers, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 67 petitions may God be gracious to us.

* [Psalm 67] A petition for a bountiful harvest (Ps 67:7), made in the awareness that Israel’s prosperity will persuade the nations to worship its God.

* [67:2] May God be gracious to us: the people’s petition echoes the blessing pronounced upon them by the priests, cf. Nm 6:22–27. (Psalms, Psalm 67| USCCB, n.d.)

The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians proclaims God’s Free Children in Christ.

* [4:1–7] What Paul has argued in Gal 3:26–29 is now elaborated in terms of the Christian as the heir (Gal 4:1, 7; cf. Gal 3:18, 29) freed from control by others. Again, as in Gal 3:2–5, the proof that Christians are children of God is the gift of the Spirit of Christ relating them intimately to God.

* [4:6] Children: see note on Gal 3:26; here in contrast to the infant or young person not of age (Gal 3:1, 3). Abba: cf. Mk 14:36 and the note; Rom 8:15. (Galatians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims the Visit of the Shepherds and the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus.

* [2:21] Just as John before him had been incorporated into the people of Israel through his circumcision, so too this child (see note on Lk 1:57–66). (Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. George Meze, SJ, reflects on Mary’s sense of awe and wonder, He is reminded of Kris Kristofferson’s song, “Why Me Lord”. As Mary shared her life with Jesus, may we share our blessings with everyone—especially the poor—In doing so, we can truly sing, “Why me, Lord, what have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known?”

“Why me Lord, what have I ever done

 To deserve even one

 Of the pleasures I’ve known… 

Tell me Lord, what did I ever do

 That was worth loving You

 Or the kindness You’ve shown.” (Meze, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “By Christ's faith, hope, and love we are purified,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.

"He therefore received in the flesh the circumcision decreed by the law, although he appeared in the flesh absolutely without any blemish of pollution. He who came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3) - not in sinful flesh - did not turn away from the remedy by which sinful flesh was ordinarily made clean. Similarly, not because of necessity but for the sake of example, he also submitted to the water of baptism, by which he wanted the people of the new law of grace to be washed from the stain of sins...

"The reason 'the child who was born to us, the son who was given to us ' (Isaiah 9:6), received the name Jesus (that is, 'Savior') does not need explanation in order to be understood by us, but we need eager and vigilant zeal so that we too may be saved by sharing in his name. Indeed, we read how the angel interprets the name of Jesus: 'He will save his people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21). And without a doubt we believe and hope that the one who saves us from sins is not failing to save us also from the corruptions which happen because of sins, and from death itself, as the psalmist testifies when he says, 'Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases' (Psalm 103:3). Indeed, with the pardoning of all of our iniquities, all our diseases will be completely healed when, with the appearance of the glory of the resurrection, our last enemy, death, will be destroyed... We read that circumcision was done with knives made of rock (Joshua 5:2), and the rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). And by Christ's faith, hope and love the hearts of the good are purified not only in baptism but furthermore in every devout action. This daily circumcision of ours (that is, the continual cleansing of our heart) does not cease from always celebrating the sacrament of the eighth day. (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.11) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 4:4-7 comments that Mary also modeled what saying yes to God looks like through her daily example of humility, compassion, and faith.

As you begin a new year, take Mary as your mother. She prays for you, she loves you, and she cares for you. Let her teach you how to say yes to God. Your “yes” might seem like nothing extraordinary: someone to care for, someone to encourage, or faithfulness to prayer in the midst of a busy day. But Mary knows that they all add up to an extraordinary life in God’s eyes, and the rewards of a faithful life.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.” (Meditation on Galatians 4:4-7, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the priestly blessing in Numbers, God is with them in a kindly way. Jesus was born of a woman and Jesus was truly Jewish as being Jewish is passed through the mother. In the Letter to the Galatians we hear the Spirit cries “Abba”. We find God most truly when we listen to our hearts and experience Jesus as a loving parent sitting with us. The shepherds arrival in Luke is unusual as they were not thought of as honest and reliable. Friar Jude places them in the anawim and notes that, in Mary's heart, where we think in Jesus' time, her child is named “Yahweh saves” and carries His mission in His name.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Margaret Feinberg who writes of the collective impact of bringing forward our own “salty” flavor for the healing of the world. Feinberg offers encouragement when the suffering of the world feels overwhelming.

For me, it’s hard to know where to begin some days. I become overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of needs that flood my inbox and mailbox, my texts and social media feeds. In search of how to find a way forward, I once stumbled on wisdom tucked into some ancient Jewish writings known as the Talmud. There it says that if someone is suffering and in need, and you can take away 1/60 of their pain, then that is goodness, and the call to help is from God. This is a powerful expression of our being the salt—the preservers, the flavorers, the fertilizers—of the earth.

The fraction—1/60—is loaded with freedom. This liberates us from the pressured thinking that whispers, Everything depends on you. Your one little grain of salt can help with something someone else’s grain can’t. And when all the grains get mixed and sprinkled together, preserving and flavoring and helping others flourish occurs everywhere. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the possibility of Peace on Earth as we begin 2026 and implore the Spirit to reveal our mission and support our surrender to be salt and light in our environment.

References

Galatians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/4?4 

Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?16 

Meditation on Galatians 4:4-7. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/01/1463077/ 

Meze, G. (2026, January 1). Daily Reflection January 1, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-1-2026 

Numbers, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/6?22

Psalms, Psalm 67| USCCB. (n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/67?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Little Salt Goes a Long Way. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-little-salt-goes-a-long-way/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Was Called Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Greeting and Attending

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, invite us to appreciate the unique gifts, especially in family, that we may overlook.

Family and Friends

1st Reading from the Book of Exodus proclaims Moses’ Intimacy with God.

Psalm 103 The Lord is kind and merciful.

Gospel of John The Raising of Lazarus

Gospel of Luke Martha and Mary

Cindy Schmersal shares her connection with Christ through Martha and Mary.

Don Schwager quotes “The voice of life and joy that awakens the dead,” by Athanasius of Alexandria (295-373 AD).

"I am the voice of life that wakens the dead. I am the good odor that takes away the foul odor. I am the voice of joy that takes away sorrow and grief.... I am the comfort of those who are in grief. Those who belong to me are given joy by me. I am the joy of the whole world. I gladden all my friends and rejoice with them. I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts of today.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments on Worthiness Is Not the Way. He cites Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem” that serves as a reminder to him when … “I’m trying to control everything and make it perfect.” The line is, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”… This line helps him remember the beauty of the cracks (and the messy house and the imperfect manuscript and the too-tight jeans).

We ponder the humanity of Martha and Mary as presented in their encounters and relationship with Jesus.

Called to Kindness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that Jesus' mission to transform the lives of humanity is realized in our acts of compassion and mercy.

Showing Kindness in Action

The reading from the Prophet Hosea describes Israel’s Sin and Captivity.

* [10:8] Aven: wickedness, first of all at Bethel (v. 5), but also at all the high places. (Hosea, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 105 praises God’s Faithfulness to Israel.

* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew names the Twelve Apostles and declares the Mission of the Twelve.

* [10:2–4] Here, for the only time in Matthew, the Twelve are designated apostles. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent,” and therefore fits the situation here described. In the Pauline letters, the place where the term occurs most frequently in the New Testament, it means primarily one who has seen the risen Lord and has been commissioned to proclaim the resurrection. With slight variants in Luke and Acts, the names of those who belong to this group are the same in the four lists given in the New Testament (see note on Mt 9:9). Cananean: this represents an Aramaic word meaning “zealot.” The meaning of that designation is unclear (see note on Lk 6:15).

* [10:5–6] Like Jesus (Mt 15:24), the Twelve are sent only to Israel. This saying may reflect an original Jewish Christian refusal of the mission to the Gentiles, but for Matthew it expresses rather the limitation that Jesus himself observed during his ministry. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Wirth comments that the key to improving our behavior with powerless strangers might be to equate justice with respect if we treat the people we customarily see face to face with civility and respect.

I’ve learned (but don’t always remember) that respectfully asking for help is a good way to begin, also saying something pleasant about previous encounters with their employer if possible. . Not only is this the “reasonable” treatment that justice demands, it’s more likely to produce results. It’s amazing how quickly you can form a problem solving relationship with a total stranger if you show the respect that justice demands because many of them seldom get this. I know because when I’m handling such an interaction well, they thank me. (Wirth, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus empowers his disciples to act in his name,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).

" If the Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified, how then did the disciples cast out the unclean spirits? They did this by his own command, by the Son's authority.2 Note the careful timing of their mission. They were not sent out at the beginning of their walk with him. They were not sent out until they had sufficiently benefited by following him daily. It was only after they had seen the dead raised, the sea rebuked, devils expelled, the legs of a paralytic brought to life, sins remitted, lepers cleansed, and had received a sufficient proof of his power both by deeds and words - only then did he send them out. And he did not send them out unprepared to do dangerous deeds, for as yet there was no danger in Palestine. They had only to stand against verbal abuse. However, Jesus still warned them of larger perils to come, preparing them for what was future." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 32.3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 comments that instead of condemning his people, though, God called them through the prophet Hosea to seek him and to break up the field of their hardened hearts (10:12). That call still resonates today, whether our lives are just a bit out of focus or we need a bigger course correction. So let’s adopt Hosea’s metaphor.

No matter how it looks for you, take that next step to seek the Lord. Keep plowing that field! God promised that if you do, he will send his rain of justice on you to bless you and bring forth life (Hosea 10:12).

“Lord, thank you for calling me closer to yourself. Inspire me today as I seek you.” (Meditation on Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler recalls the problem addressed by Hosea that the people of Israel offered fruit to the page god of fertility, Baal, and forgot Yahweh, the God of their desert experience. The listing of Judas, the one who betrayed HIm, indicates that Jesus did not choose him by mistake. Friar Jude reminds us that the converted Pharisee, who likely edited Matthew’s Gospel, referred to the “Kingdom of Heaven” as more respectful to Yahweh than the “Kingdom Of God”.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that mature transformation involves Showing Up. Showing up means bringing our hearts and minds into the actual suffering and problems of the world. It means engagement, social presence, and sincere concern for justice and peace—and others beyond ourselves. It means having the courage to enter the fray of life and even being willing to make big mistakes or appear foolish. Showing up is the full and final result of cleaning up, growing up, and waking up. It’s God’s fully transformed “work of art” (see Ephesians 2:10, Jerusalem Bible). If we do not have a lot of people showing up in the suffering trenches of the world, it’s probably because those of us in the world of religion have allowed them to stop with merely cleaning up, growing up, or waking up. Contemplative activist Alison McCrary recounts a recent experience of “showing up” for justice.

I don’t think any amount of data will ever change hearts and minds, but it’s the stories, it’s the prayer, it’s conversation, it’s dialogue. We saw that back in 2018. I led our statewide campaign to end non-unanimous juries. Louisiana was the only state in the country where a person could get life without parole with a non-unanimous jury. In most states, you have to have 12 of 12 jurors say, “this person is guilty,” and here, when Black people were allowed to serve on jury, they said, “Well, we only need 10 of 12 votes to convict someone.” And this was to keep [in place] … the plantation prison culture that happens here—where people are paid two cents an hour to work on agriculture farms in our prisons. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to revive our sense of justice and to move us to act with kindness and compassion in the struggle to make life more full for everyone.

References

Hosea, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/10?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?1 

Meditation on Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/10/1020032/ 

Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Showing Up to Serve. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/showing-up-to-serve/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Gives His Disciples Authority to Heal and Set Free. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul10 

Wirth, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071024.html